Transient, passenger arrested after Santa Rosa-to-Forestville chase in stolen car

A 33-year-old transient was arrested after he led authorities on a 13-mile, high-speed chase Tuesday night that started in Santa Rosa and ended in Forestville.

Michael B. Campbell peeled out of the parking lot of a Cleveland Avenue motel in a stolen Acura Integra at about midnight, just minutes after a deputy had spotted the car and called in the multi-agency auto theft task force to investigate further, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said. The car headed south to Guerneville Road, where it continued westbound at more than 85 mph, blowing red lights and swerving to avoid other vehicles, sheriff’s Sgt. Cecile Focha said.

“Fortunately, there was very little traffic on the roadway,” she said in a statement.

Campbell then changed directions, heading north to Piner Road, where spike strips were laid out, Focha said.

“Undeterred,” she said, “the driver continued speeding, reaching 90 mph.”

A front tire came off the rim, but the car continued on to River Road until it skidded off the road and got stuck in soft dirt along the shoulder. Campbell took off running up Argonne Way, down a hillside and into a shallow creek near Trenton Road before he was arrested, Focha said.

A passenger, Pearl Von Renner, 19, of Guerneville, also tried to run but was quickly detained, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

In addition to the Sheriff’s Office, Santa Rosa Police and CHP also assisted in the pursuit.

Campbell, who is from the Santa Rosa area, had been out on bail in a previous vehicle theft case, Focha said. Campbell also had a suspended license.

He was booked into the Sonoma County Jail and faces new charges of vehicle theft and committing a felony while out on bail, as well as for suspicion of possession of stolen property, driving with a suspended license and resisting and recklessly evading arrest.

Von Renner also was booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of possessing stolen property and resisting arrest.

The pair is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

You can reach Staff Writer Eloísa Ruano González at 521-5458 or eloisa.gonzalez@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @eloisanews.